The 2013 Fall Summit marks the twelfth anniversary of the creation of The Alliance which occurred on November 17, 2001. It isn’t often that so many leaders of nursing organizations are able to come together in one place. The Coordinating Team and I are looking forward to this unique opportunity for dialogue, networking, and collaboration.

For those who are joining us for the first time, the purpose of the Alliance is to provide a forum for identification, education, and collaboration building on issues of common interest so Alliance member organizations can advance the nursing profession in a cohesive way. The program and schedule for the meeting are designed with this purpose in mind.

The Alliance educational programs enjoyed strong attendance this past year. The Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI) and the Nursing Alliance Leadership Academy (NALA) were overwhelmingly rated excellent by attendees. The Alliance has also offered three webinars in 2013. We will provide more information about the Alliance’s successes over the past year during the annual business meeting on Friday. I hope you will join us!

It has been a privilege to serve as the Lead Coordinator for the Nursing Organizations Alliance over the past year. On behalf of the Coordinating Team, I want to welcome you to the Fall Summit and to thank you for your support of the Alliance through your attendance at this meeting. We hope you enjoy the program. Please don’t forget to take a little time to relax, unwind, and experience some of Minneapolis.